Boujee on a Budget
Business owners make party dreams a reality for Texas families
By Brandy Cruz | Photos by Brandy Cruz and courtesy of Leap Bounce House
Children love big birthday parties full of friends and fun, and having a bounce house at a party is like the proverbial icing on the cake.
Knowing how much they enjoy throwing elaborate parties for their own children, and wanting to make some extra money, Heather Shelton and Erica Stone decided to go into business together. Their idea was to make elaborate parties affordable to local families.
“Our tag line is ‘boujee on a budget,’” Stone shared about their business, Leap Bounce House. “We understand how hard it is to make parties extra special when you don’t have a huge budget and we wanted to help other moms make their party dreams come true!”
It’s not just birthday parties though, Shelton and Stone said their bounce houses are a hit at just about any event one could imagine. From weddings to baby showers, family reunions to big community events, the possibilities are endless. Their bounce houses come in a variety of aesthetically pleasing colors to suit any party theme.
It’s not just bounce houses they provide, but a whole experience. They offer aesthetic water slides, outdoor cinema set ups, luxury picnics and a dome (clear tent). They also offer balloon garlands that are attached to the bounce houses, though they let their clients know that they are not balloon professionals and point them in the right direction if they want something special.
“We understand that budgets can be tight so if we can help someone out by providing in house balloon options, we absolutely will,” Shelton added.
The two Bell County natives, who have known each other since they were 12-year-olds playing on rival sports teams, grew even closer after Stone began dating and eventually married Shelton’s brother. Now they’re best friends, business partners and sisters-in-law.
“We have truly got to experience so much life together, from marriages to babies, to raising toddlers and everything in between! I personally love working together,” Stone said. “It’s like getting to work with your best friend! We truly complement each other so well in business and in life.”
“We love working together,” Shelton added. “We are very similar in many ways and we balance each other out really well. We both have high standards and we make a great team.”
Although that team is led by them, their dream has truly become a family endeavor, with their children seeing first-hand how a little hard work and dedication can turn a dream into a reality. Their children help them set up parties, clean bounce houses, make balloon garlands — hard work that instills in their young minds that a job well done today can lead to a better future.
The ladies started their bounce house business dream in June 2022 and said they couldn’t have done it without their amazing customers and supporters, as well as their best “employees” and biggest cheerleaders — their little families. Now, they hope they are creating something their children will potentially inherit one day.
“I have a special needs niece who one day will need her own job and purpose. My hope is that we build this into something she can be a part of into her adulthood,” Stone shared. “How beautiful it would be to give her such a gift! I hope all our kids see that if they have a passion, vision or dream, they can take the leap of faith and go for it!”
“Our kids and their futures are our number one motivation,” Shelton concluded, “so getting to work towards that while creating fun for families, friends and businesses is truly the icing on the cake!”
Leap Bounce House
Website: leapbouncehouserentals.com
Phone: 254-781-1013
Social: facebook.com/leapbouncehouses
